kejimkujik seaside

This is a short, but lovely hike on the south shore coast. We had a great day for our hike. My visitor from Alberta loved the ocean views. Sun shining on the ocean, few people on the trail. Great little hike to see some coast!

This seaside adjunct of Kejimkujik National Park is a pleasant place to spend a few hours. The address is Highway 103, 25 km SW of Liverpool, down St Catherines River Rd., Port Joli (on the left, driving south from Halifax). The road down to it is not a problem for cars (even though it does turn to a gravel surface close to the park) and parking is easy. Male and female toilets available at the car park which were very clean, and by Harbour Rocks. We did the loop walk to Harbour Rocks, around Port Joli Head and back via Boyd's Cove to the car park (see photo map - a trail map is apparently also available on-line: kejimkujik.info@pc.gc.caparkscanada.gc.ca/keji). Harbour and grey seals were basking on the rocks and there were lots of seabirds, but the wildlife highlight was coming across a black bear foraging on the beach - we were downwind of it, and enough of a distance away to watch it without feeling too twitchy. Once it saw us, it bolted in the opposite direction (phew!). Signs at the car park did warn there were bears in the area, but we were nonetheless surprised (and pleased) to see one. The views were lovely, and the fall colours terrific. The path is generally an easy walk/good underfoot - the only uneven footing being around the rocky seashore.

Good trail with gravel over dirt, winds through various ecosystems on way to the beach. Some inclines but mostly flat. Better have shoes than flip flops. Beach views spectacular. Plenty of seals sunning on the rocks. Maybe about a twenty minute hike one way.

It is worth the drive to the seaside adjunct (albeit it on rather dusty and rough roads) to walk the trails. Each trail profiles different aspects of the geography so it is worth doing them all. We did them twice in one week as we enjoyed it so much! (We went around in the opposite direction so it looked different to me!) Although the trails are relatively flat, I would recommend wearing fairly good shoes to walk on the rocks and along the boulder beaches.

We took the shorter, direct hike to the beach. The hike towards the shore was very dry with high vegetation - was hard to believe there would be an ocean beach at the end of the ~2.5 kms. The beach was beautiful fine white sand although the water was frigid. Washrooms at both the head and beach end of the trail. Lots of lichens on the trees at the head of the trail too. Not a super eventful hike but unique and an easy stroll. Was no charge for the hike.

This is a bit longer walk than most to see an attraction. It takes approximately 25 minutes to reach the seashore, but the walk is fairly level and trail is well maintained, but do wear sensible shoes. There is a lot of interesting vegetation to see along the way including wild cranberries in season. Once you reach the shoreline you will enjoy an experience like no other. The ocean on a sunny day reminds you of the caribbean, you know, that turquoisy blue colour. You first encounter interesting rock formations from which you can watch many, many seals swimming and sunning themselves on the offshore outcroppings and bellowing grumpily at each other. A little further on you encounter one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in Nova Scotia. We always pack a lunch and plan on spending 3-4 hours here. There is also another looping trail which takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs along the shoreline-another great trek. Bring your camera and extra water! Should be a bucket list contender.

We visited today, nice flat walk to the Harbor Rocks. The view once you arrive at the shore is fantastic! Worth the hike, bring BUG SPRAY!! Before our walk we had a a picnic lunch at the tables just off the parking lot. There were two tables on a covered platform with a great view. Also restrooms nearby are fine with hot running water. There are "beware of bear signs" at the beginning of the trail which gave us pause ..... hey it's an adventure and we're outdoors! Walking on the beach and climbing over the rocks was fun. Photo opportuniities were plentiful today good clouds and a rain squall in the distance. Didn't see any seals. Enjoy!

The hike to the Harbor Rocks was nothing spectacular, but once you reached the water, there were great views! Huge rocks all around. We even saw seals cavorting in the water and sunning themselves on the rocks just off the shore.

I visited Keji Seaside just yesterday, arrived around 8:30 AM, mine was the only car in the parking lot. First you pass little Park cabin( was closed), facilities nearby were open, clean, well maintained. I hiked the shorter route to the rocks. Overcast, breezy day. Trail goes through the woods, then continues through brush, teaming with wildflowers. You pass several lookouts, you can see miles away. Trail is very well maintained. After about 2.5 km you arrive to the sandy beach, protected by large rocks on both sides. Several large rock formations short distance in the ocean teaming with seabirds. Continue uphill, at the far end of the beach, on very narrow, quite rocky trail for another 300-400m and you will be rewarded with panoramic view of the coast, beaches, Atlantic ocean. I really enjoyed view of many harbor and few gray seals popping up all around in the ocean and taking "siesta" on nearby rocks ( bring binoculars). Simply beautiful place, enjoyed the solitude for about an hour, met first people on the way back , probably because it was Monday. Spent total about 4 hours there and loved it!!

my wife and i took the longer of the two hikes and it was really beautiful.we saw seals,deer and great ocean views.

St Catherine's beach is so beautiful. White sandy beach, rolling ocean, birds and seals. Easy walking. Take your binocs and a jacket

We did the whole hike of the park. Based on what I read I thought the shorter walk was where we'd see seals. Yes, they were in the water and on the rocks, did not see any on beach that day. So if that is your purpose go to the beach walk, they have a binoculars stop, to lookout afar on the rocks. Also various birds to view. We then continued back to the trail and finished it off with the trail around the water front. The walk was pretty easy to travel on the paths and the boardwalk, except the area of rocks that was not comfortable. They do not want you to go off their path because of disturbing the eco system, so there were area's the ocean was not viewable.

We had a lovely sunny day and decided on a day at 'Keji'. We are visitors and everyone suggested we go. We're glad we did as it is a beautiful natural seashore. From Hwy 103 go to St. Catherines River Rd and this will take you to the park. it is about 6km more and the last part of the road is unpaved.There is a Kiosk but no one was manning it the day we were there. Alas, the bathrooms were locked. There is also a covered picnic area. A map at the trail head depicts the walking route. We opted to go all the way around which is about 8 km. The walk is easy and some parts are shady. The seashore is lovely and we saw seals on the rocks. Closer to the shore the trail becomes very pebbly but it is marked. It is not easy to walk on! At Boyds Cove there is a telescope for viewing.The day we were there, there were 4 cars in the lot.

We spent one afternoon in this pretty seaside adjunct. It was the most perfect weather ever and there werent many people at all. Since we happened to be there during low tide, we even got to see some seals (resting on the rocks during low tide, out foraging at high tide).

Amazing flowers and plants topped off with finding pitcher plants and beautiful orchids. The sand was white lovely to walk on but the water, even on a blistering hot day was freezing! Still a good place to stretch your legs and get out of the car